Assad Vala

With the bat, Vala operates in the top order and is most comfortable opening the innings. He also brings a second string to his game as an off-spinner whose bowling is more than a part-time option, and he can make a real impact in the white-ball formats.

A defining chapter of his career came in the Intercontinental Cup 2015-17. He marked his first-class debut in that competition by scoring a century, and his strong, sustained returns across the tournament did much to drive his development as a player.

Leadership followed. Vala was appointed captain of the national team in 2018, some 13 years after first representing his country. That same year brought a setback for Papua New Guinea, which temporarily lost its ODI status following a defeat to Nepal. Under Vala's shrewd captaincy the side recovered that status in 2019 at the WCL Division Two tournament, a result that counts among the high points of his time in charge.